Story I – Chapter 27
Rossi stayed about another thirty minutes with Hotch to make sure he was truly alright, and then Hotch had spent about another thirty minutes mulling over what Rossi had said and had come to the conclusion that since he had saved Rossi, that losing control for that reason wasn't all that bad. After talking to Kahlan, though, she'd convinced him that he hadn't lost control, that he'd let the vampire take over because someone he loved was in danger. He really liked thinking about it like that, and that let him finally find a little peace and go to sleep.
After breakfast, the BAU team went to interview their unsubs. It turned out that Mr. Widmyer had been killing people for over ten years, and about four months before, Billy Widmyer had caught him in the subbasement one time and instead of reporting it to the police and trying to get help for his father, he'd joined him. They had killed one person a month, but after Karen Wadley had turned him down for date, he had attacked and killed her on his own. Finding how much he liked his father not telling him what to do; he had set out and killed Jeremey Hill on his own, too.
Mr. Widmyer was livid once he found out and started screaming and yelling at his son saying that they never would have been caught if he hadn't had gone off on his own. Rossi and JJ shared a look because he was right. If Billy hadn't left the bodies where they had been found, the authorities would have never known the Widmyers were serial killers and God only knew how long they would have kept that up.
When the BAU finally got the case wrapped up, they headed home a little after lunch. They all got their case files done on the jet, and Hotch took just enough time to sign off on them and turned them in before he left the BAU. He was in a hurry to get home because it was Jack's birthday. The Hotchner's had planned a family get together that weekend, but being able to get home on the actual day was important to Hotch.
After letting Jack pick what he wanted for dinner, they all headed out to their favorite pizza parlor. Hotch's mood had started out a little reserved, but by the time dinner had arrived and a few games were played he was getting in a better mood.
Jack watched his father from across the room as Hotch played a game of pool with Wyatt. When Kahlan came back to the booth from playing a video game with Joey, Jack gave her a sidelong look. "What's going on with Dad?"
Kahlan licked her lips as she turned to watch the game. "What do you mean?"
Jack appraised her in true Hotchner fashion and then huffed. "It's obvious he's having some problems at work and that never happens, and it's more than a tough case, so what's going on?"
She had noticed Wyatt eyeing Hotch with concern earlier, too. She took a deep breath. "He's going through a few things, but there isn't anything for you to be worried about."
His eyes searched hers. "Are you sure? Cause Dad seems almost disappointed with himself or something."
She sighed. "Yeah. He's being hard on himself, but when doesn't he?"
Jack studied his father for a few more moments. "But he's alright?"
She put her arm around him and gave his shoulders a squeeze. "He's going to be fine."
He turned and locked eyes with her. "Is there anything we can do to help him?"
She smiled. "Just keep doing what you already are. Showing him how much you love him and spending time with him is exactly what he needed tonight."
Jack took a deep breath through his nose. "You're going to have to tell us sooner or later."
She smiled. "Yep, but I think Dad just needs a little more time."
He nodded. "Alright. I'll drop it for now."
She pulled him to her and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Jack."
He smiled and went to Joey as she called for him. Kahlan shook her head. I have to get him comfortable enough with it before he will want to tell them. She sighed. Aaron, Aaron, Aaron. . . Her breath caught in her throat as Hotch's head turned and his eyes locked with hers and she mentally winced. She had forgotten how excellent his hearing had become and knew he had heard them talking. She quickly gave him a small smile and shrugged. He shook his head and then lined up his next shot.
Once they were done eating and playing, Hotch brought a cannoli to the table with a lit candle stuck in the top of it; it was the closest thing the restaurant had to cake. Jack's cheeks heated as his family sang him 'Happy Birthday,' and once they finished he gave his father a long look before blowing out the candle. Hotch shared a look with his wife and she smiled; it was obvious Jack's wish had been something about his dad.
Joey reached in and swiped some of the cream filling with her finger. "It's not fair. Jack gets dessert and we don't."
Hotch shook his head at her. "It's his birthday."
She huffed. "But that didn't stop you from scarfing down the other one at the counter. We all know Pisano's sells them in pairs."
Hotch's cheeks heated as he sank into his seat a little more. "No one was supposed to see that," he offered and everyone laughed.
XXX
Once they got the kids in bed, Kahlan met him at the top of the stairs and motioned for him to follow her to his den. She grabbed his lunchbox out of his go-bag. "I got something to handle the empty bags," she told him as she handed him the box and then left the room.
He took the box and followed her. "Already?"
She nodded as she went to the garage. Once she was in there, she went to the far corner and looked back at him.
His brows furrowed as he studied the corner. "You put in new cabinets?"
She smiled. "Yep," she offered as opened the corner one. "They had to be made out of heat resistant material."
He frowned at the steel cabinet that was revealed within the regular looking one.
She giggled and pulled on a little handle of a tilt out a tray. She held out her hand, so he opened the box and gave her the crinkled up bag that had held the blood. She put it in the tray, shut it, pulled down a steel shield, and then she pushed a red button and stepped back.
His eyes got wide as the soft humming of a blower started. "You got me an incinerator?"
She shrugged. "It's vented out through the roof but it's so small no one should notice the exhaust, and it's the latest design so the emissions are filtered and such, so it's very environmentally friendly."
He shook his head as he smiled. "That's pretty damn cool."
She giggled her evil giggle. "And a perfect way to get rid of evidence."
His eyes narrowed as he studied her. "It's disturbing that you would even say it like that."
She giggled again and when a green light flashed, she raised the shield and pulled the tray open. There weren't even any ashes in it.
He huffed. "Do I even want to know where you got that?"
She giggled as she shut it and the cabinet. "Probably not," she offered as she headed back into the house.
He took one more look at the cabinet that didn't look like anything more than a garage storage cabinet and then shook his head. She can be really scary sometimes. He ran a hand over the back of his neck. And here I thought she'd just find someplace to dispose of them like at a hospital or something. He shook his head again and went into the house.
When Kahlan came out of her den a few minutes later, she found Hotch standing in front of the shelves that held all of the family's pictures. She placed a loving hand on his back and rubbed it up and down. He huffed as he put a picture of the kids back into its spot. "They all know, don't they?"
"They know something's not right, but they don't know what of course."
He looked at her. "I guess I need to tell them so they stop worrying, huh?"
"I think I have alleviated their worry for now. Why don't we plan on maybe telling them this weekend? We could go up to Dave's cabin after Jack's party and tell them up there," she suggested with a smile.
Hotch inhaled deeply as he thought about it. "Some place safe so I can demonstrate, huh?"
She shrugged. "You know they're going to want to see it."
He nodded slowly. "You're right."
"Or we can wait even longer if you need to."
He shook his head. "No. They need to be told. God only knows what conclusions they're coming up with. It will be better for them to know the truth."
She reached up and started kneading his shoulder. "That's true. Maybe then you could relax a little more around them, too."
He looked at her. "I've been relaxed."
She huffed and pushed on him. "Yeah? Then why are your muscles so tight that I can flip a coin off of them?" she asked as her fingers worked their way down the muscles beside his spine.
He looked at her with eyes filled with confusion as he stretched his back out. "They don't feel tight to me."
She drew her hand back as she cringed. "Oh sorry. I hadn't noticed that."
He reached back and felt the muscles she had been touching and he frowned; they were rock hard as if he was flexing them.
She started for the stairs. "I guess you'll never need another massage from me," she offered.
He frowned even more because he could hear the disappointment in her voice, so he quickly followed her and pulled her to a stop. "Just because I don't need it doesn't mean it didn't feel good," he tried with a smile.
She appraised him and then sighed. "You just don't need me as much anymore, Aaron, and that's ok."
He wilted. "My body may not need you taking care of it, but I still need you to take care of me." He knew she enjoyed taking care of him almost as much as he enjoyed her doing it.
She gave him a smile. "And I still will; it will just be in different ways."
He pulled her to him. "I couldn't do this without you, Babe."
She gave him a squeeze. "Yes you could, but thank you for saying so."
He pulled back and looked her in the eyes. "No I couldn't. I'd be lost without your help and guidance."
She shook her head and went up to their room. "You'd figure it all out."
He huffed. "Yeah right." He pointed to the door and the rooms beyond. "You get everything figured out before I can even start to wonder how to handle things."
She sighed and then gave him a quick kiss. "I'm taking a shower."
He nodded; he had taken his shower before they had gone out for dinner. "I'll be in bed."
Once he got laid down, he felt his chest and legs and realized that every one of his muscles were harder than normal. He frowned. He hadn't noticed that before and he wondered if they'd been that way since his change or if it was something new. He huffed. No, they must have been this way and I just didn't notice. It's no wonder she doesn't want to lay on me anymore. He sighed.
When Kahlan finally emerged from the bathroom, he rolled on his side and lifted the covers for her. She crawled in but pushed on him to roll over onto his back, but he kept his side position and frowned. "You don't want to sleep like that."
She huffed. "So being a vampire means you can tell what I want or don't want?"
He sighed. "No, but I don't want you uncomfortable."
She frowned. "I said I just needed a little time to get used to your heart beating like that is all. I want to see if I can."
He put his fingertips on his chest. "But all of my muscles feel like bricks. You'll be more comfortable lying on the bed, not me."
She sat up fully and fixed him with a hard look. "I don't think you get to tell me what to do vampire or not."
He licked his lips and then locked eyes with her. "Sleep on the bed, you'll rest better," he offered in a calm tone.
Her eyes shot open. "Aaron Jackson Hotchner! Did you just try to compel me?"
He sat up and the shock on his face was obvious for a second, but he quickly shook his head. "No, of course not, I just. . ."
She smacked his arm. "You did! You little shit!"
He frowned. "I should have known it wouldn't work on you."
"I can't be hypnotized what makes you think I could be compelled?" She tried to shove him away from her, but he didn't budge so she scrambled backwards. "I can't believe you even tried that!"
He reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her back to him. "I just want you to sleep well, Babe."
She shook her head at him. "Then lay your ass down and let me get comfortable."
He sighed but laid down on his back and lifted his arm to let her get into her normal spot.
She snuggled in and laid her head on his chest and then sighed. She pat his gut as she draped her arm and leg over him like usual. "And you feel fine to me, Aaron. Stop beating yourself up over every little thing."
He sighed and started stroking her hair. "Is my heart bothering you?"
She shook her head and gave him a squeeze. "Nope. Goodnight, Hun. I love you."
He wasn't sure he believed her or not, but he squeezed her back. "I love you, too, Babe. Goodnight."
XXX
Kahlan awoke to Hotch shifting under her. She rubbed her eyes and sat up as she studied him in the dim light. His head suddenly turned towards her and he let out a low groan. She grabbed her phone off the nightstand and brought the screen to life so she could use its light to see her husband and she almost dropped it when she saw his fangs hiding behind his slightly parted lips.
She frowned. So is him being relaxed allowed it to come out or is he dreaming about something vampiric? When his brows knitted together and he let out a soft whine, her heart ached. God, he sounds so sad. She reached up and started stroking his hair. "Shhh, Aaron, it's ok," she whispered softly and brushed her lips across his forehead.
When he seemed to settle a little, she kissed his cheek with tender lips. "Only good dreams, Hun."
His head nestled further down into the pillow and he half smiled which made her smile. Maybe he's not dreaming about anything bad. She watched him to make sure he was truly at peace and once she thought he was, she bit her lip and then ran a gentle finger over his bottom lip which made him open his mouth even more. His fangs shone brightly and her brows furrowed. I wonder how sharp they are.
She waited another moment and then ran her finger over one of the tips, and then winced when it punctured her. She pulled her hand back quickly, but Hotch's nostrils flared and he frowned as he moaned. She saw that a small drop of blood had formed, so she quickly stuck the end of her finger in her mouth and clamped her lips around it hoping to shield him from the smell of it as she held her breath to see if he was going to react anymore.
After a look of confusion ghosted his face for a second, he finally relaxed into the pillow again, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she scooted away from him. She checked her finger and saw no more blood and she shook her head. You are an idiot, Kay! She shook her head some more as she put her phone back on the nightstand and rolled over onto her side. That could have gone so wrong! She sighed. Just go back to sleep, Dumbass.
After a few moments, she winced. Shit! He's supposed to feed tomorrow so he's probably getting hungry. That's why he was changed. She ran a hand down her face and then startled when Hotch grabbed her and pulled her back to him.
"Everything alright?" he asked in a sleepy whisper.
She nodded. "Yeah." She could tell he must have been back to normal because he wasn't upset.
"Then why are you awake and all the way over there?"
She took a deep breath and shrugged. "I just woke up. Sorry."
He tucked her into his side even more and leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Anything I can do?"
She pat his chest. "No. Go back to sleep, Hun. I'm fine."
He nodded and then took a deep breath. "Love you," he uttered quietly.
She smiled because she could tell he was on his way back to sleep. "I love you, too, Hun."
